JULY 2026
NETWORK NEWS
Roman Space Telescope
August 30, 2026 Launch Planned
Named after NASA’s first chief astronomer, the “mother of the Hubble Space Telescope,” the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now scheduled to launch on August 30th. Learn how you can participate and engage your community. The telescope will have a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble's, potentially measuring light from a billion galaxies in its lifetime. This observatory will also be able to block starlight to directly see exoplanets and planet-forming disks, complete a statistical census of planetary systems in our galaxy, and answer questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.
nisenet.org/roman
Learn more about our upcoming August 11th free online workshop covering the science of Roman and how to engage learners through national events.
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
ASTC Conference
We are looking forward to seeing many NISE Network partners at the upcoming ASTC conference in Phoenix this September. We are planning a booth, sessions, and a networking event. Check out our list of NISE Network events at the conference:
nisenet.org/astc2026
UPCOMING EVENTS
Online Workshops
The NISE Network hosts free online workshops as professional development opportunities for our partners to share with and learn from each other. Online workshops take place on select Tuesdays at 2pm-3pm Eastern. View upcoming online workshops at nisenet.org/events
• Practical Approaches to Immersive Digital Experiences in Museums
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
2-3pm Eastern
Learn more and register
• Ready for Roman -
Resources for Celebrating the Launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
2-3pm Eastern
Learn more and register
FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE
America at 250 Resources
As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary, there are many opportunities for us all to be involved. The NISE Network has created a compilation of resources emphasizing connections to STEM learning and engagement.
nisenet.org/America250
Artemis Moon Joy
Looking for ways to keep that Moon joy feeling going? Check out these
Moon activities and resources
National Coloring Book Day is August 2nd
Looking for activities about color and free coloring STEM-themed coloring books?
nisenet.org/color
Professional Learning Video:
Perspectives on STEM Learning Ecosystems, Belonging, and Authentic STEM Engagement
This recent video is available from the STEM Learning Ecosystems project. This is the sixth video in our professional learning series that introduces practitioners to STEM Learning Ecosystems. In this video, we ask professionals from across the country who are involved in STEM learning ecosystems to tell us about their experiences and to reflect on why community partnerships matter when creating opportunities for learners to engage in STEM.
Watch the new video
Learn about the six-part video series
Recent Publications:
• “Communities of transformation: an example from the museum field,” by Rae Ostman and Nich Weller has been published in Museum Management and Curatorship. This peer-reviewed journal article explores the Sustainability Fellowship as a community of transformation.
Learn more
More publications:
nisenet.org/publications
Online Workshop Recordings:
• America at 250 - Just in time resources you can use at science centers and children's museums (recorded 6-9-26)
Learn more
• Library Collaborations to Engage Local Public Audiences
(recorded 5-19-26)
Learn more
• Finding and Collaborating with NASA Experts - Solar System Ambassadors and Night Sky Network
(recorded 4-14-26)
Learn more
• Museums Share Experiences Participating in STEM Learning Ecosystems
(recorded 3-31-2026)
Learn more
• More online workshop recordings
Looking for an easy way to discover resources on the nisenet.org website?
Check out our “Browse by Themes and Topics,” featuring curated collections of hands-on activities and resources by themes and STEM topics:
nisenet.org/browse-topic
PARTNER HIGHLIGHT
Parters Share Inspiring Uses for the
What Is Learning? and What Values Do You Share? Conversation Starter Activities
Lately we’ve heard from a lot of partners who are finding great ways to adapt the NISE Network’s two conversation starter activities to work for their audiences. What Is Learning? and What Values Do You Share? are two card-based conversation starters that were designed for professional audiences as a way to break the ice and help professionals articulate their thoughts around learning (what it looks like, where it takes place) and reflect on the underlying values that motivate their work, define their goals, and facilitate community collaborations.
Learn more
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Host a Roman Space Telescope event
With launch planned as early as August 30, 2026, NASA invites organizations to host community events for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Get access to free resources, webinars, and support to bring space science to your audience.
Learn more
Sign up to participate
More resources
nisenet.org/roman
Celebrate the World Cup with NASA's Cosmic Pitch
Developed by NASA’s Universe of Learning and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, these resources use the physics of soccer—spin, speed, acceleration, and collisions—to explain the science of the universe. The resources are evergreen and suitable for youth soccer anytime.
Learn more
More resources
nisenet.org/sports
New COVES
Visitor Report Available
The Collaboration for Ongoing Visitor Experience Studies (COVES) systematically collects, analyzes, and reports on visitor experience data to better understand and improve museum visitor experiences. The new Understanding Our Visitors: A Closer Look report shares data about who visits, why they visit, and how they rate their visits.
Learn more
Astronomy@250
virtual conference,
August 27-29
The Astro Society will host Astronomy@250, a virtual conference celebrating 250 years of astronomy in the US, from August 27-29.
• Learn more
Polar STEAM Summit,
October 1-3, Corvallis, OR
Where polar science, art, and education intersect and curiosity comes to life. Collaborate with educators, researchers, and artists to expand your toolkit and build lasting professional connections.
• Learn more
International Observe the Moon Night 2026
Save-the-date for this year’s event taking place on Saturday, September 19.
• Learn more
• Moon activities and resources
Interested in one of our exhibitions?
Join the waiting list!
If you are interested in hosting the Nano exhibition or the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition, please reach out to Christina Leavell, NISE Network Community Manager, to be added to a waiting list.
Contact us
SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
NEUROSCIENCE NEWS
A man with severe paralysis caused by ALS, can now “speak” using an experimental brain implant that reads his thoughts aloud.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Brain and neuroscience resources
GENETICS NEWS
To combat the recent New World screwworm outbreak in Texas, the USDA is mass-releasing millions of sterile male flies to mate with wild females and disrupt their reproductive cycle.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Building with Biology resources
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY & GENETICS NEWS
Scientists say they have built a cell from scratch that can grow and replicate like a natural cell. This could lead to organisms that function like living machines.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Building with Biology resources
HEALTH NEWS
A controversial gene therapy clinical trial has begun using an experimental therapy designed to reverse age-related vision loss.The hope is that a single injection, along with antibiotics, could preserve or even restore vision in those who have lost sight in one or both eyes.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
SPACE NEWS
A 110 pound meteorite that crashed through a bedroom ceiling in New Jersey in 2024 resulted in a fireball and sonic boom experienced throughout the New York City area. Scientists have now traced its origins to a strange, briny asteroid once visited by a NASA mission. Scientists think the meteorite's parent asteroid likely came from an area of the asteroid belt already observed in a flyby by NASA's Lucy mission.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Asteroids, Comets, and Meteorite resources
ENGINEERING & AI NEWS
For decades, engineers have been trying to create robots that look and act more human. Advances in AI have allowed more robots to move from the lab to the factory floor.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Engineering and robot resources
NANOTECHNOLOGY & SPACE NEWS
Vantablack (Vertically Aligned Nano Tube Array Black) is a super-black coating made with carbon nanotubes that claims to be the world’s darkest materials. Some people are advocating that the coating be used on satellites to reduce light pollution on Earth.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Carbon activities
ENERGY NEWS
Energizer has launched a new household coin lithium battery designed to keep young children safer. The batteries are made from a titanium alloy material, instead of the usual stainless steel material found in similar batteries. The battery also includes a nontoxic food dye that turns blue when a battery comes into contact with saliva and also has a bitter-tasting coating that may help deter swallowing.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
• Energy resources and battery activities
RADIO NEWS
Higher temperatures can cause radio, TV, and microwave signals to travel hundreds of miles farther, affecting communication systems. This includes false alarms caused by longer traveling radio signals accidentally activating emergency sirens.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
WEATHER NEWS
Hot, dry conditions have contributed towards wildfires in the US and Canada. Smoke from Canadian wildfires is now affecting people thousands of miles away.
Learn more
NISE Network resources:
STEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Discover activity ideas for incorporating current science, engineering, and technology content into events, special programming, holidays, and seasonal activities by visiting: nisenet.org/seasons
Year-long 2026
SUMMER
- Summer Camp Resources
- Outside Activities
- Summer Reading
- NISE Network books, reading, and storytelling resources
- Summer reading themes (2026 theme: Unearth a Story)
- Summer reading programs and resources
- Sun and Sand
JULY
- What’s Up Skywatching Tips from NASA
- Plastic Free July (July)
- Flush Smart Month (July)
- National Ice Cream Day (July 18)
- Moon Landing - anniversary of Apollo 11 first step on the Moon July 20, 1969 (July 20)
- World Brain Day (July 22)
- National Intern Day (July 30, last Thursday of July)
AUGUST
- Perseid Meteor Shower (August)
- The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower as they peak on warm August nights as seen from the Northern Hemisphere
- NISE Network Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, and Meteorites resources
- National Immunization Awareness Month (August)
- National Coloring Book Day (August 2)
- National Sand Castle Day (first Saturday of August)
- International Infinity Day (August 8)
- The mathematical infinity symbol looks like a sideways number 8.
- NISE Network size, scale, & measurement resources
- Howtosmile.org infinity activities
- World Photography Day (August 19)
- NISE Network light activities and resources
- NISE Network scientific images gallery
- NISE Network publicity photo gallery
- Selfies and photo ops: DIY Solar System App
- Selfies and photo ops: Radio Futures: I Spy Radio (Let’s Send a Selfie in Wavetown PDF)
- Selfies and photo ops: Exploring Tools - Dress Up Like a Nanoscientist activity
- National Aviation Day (August 19)
- National Radio Day (August 20)
- World Mosquito Day (August 20)
- Frankenstein Day (August 30)
- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was born on August 30, 1797; she wrote the novel Frankenstein in 1816, and published it in 1818
- Frankenstein200 kit of activities
NATIONAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
- ASTC List of Conferences in the Community
Learn more - Visitor Studies Association (VSA), July 21-23, 2026, Kansas City, MO
Learn more - Astronomy@250, Astro Society, August 27-29, 2026, virtual
Learn more - National Rural STEM Summit, September 3-4, 2026, Glendale, AZ
Learn more - ASTC Conference, September 16-19, 2026, Phoenix, AZ
Learn more - Polar STEAM Summit, October 1-3, 2026, Corvallis, OR
Learn more - Association of Children's Museums (ACM) InterActivity, May 12-14, 2027, Tulsa, OK
Learn more - National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Conferences
Learn more